Meet the Expert

Meet the Expert — a popular workshop offering — makes nationally acclaimed scholastic journalism educators available to consult individually with publication staffs on Tuesday, June 30 and Wednesday, July 1, at the following times both days —

9:30 a.m. • 10:30 a.m. • 1 p.m. • 2 p.m. • 3 p.m. • 4 p.m.

When registering for the workshop, advisers sign up for each session, although the entire staff attends. The cost is $75 for each 50-minute session.

For 2026, a special Meet the Expert consultant will be dedicated to middle school/junior staffs.

The Meet the Expert program is made possible by our sponsors: Jostens and Walsworth.

Leland Mallett, CJE, was the website and yearbook adviser at Mansfield Legacy High School (Texas) for 18 years. During that time, Legacy’s publications have won multiple CSPA Crowns and NSPA Pacemakers. 

In 2015, Mallett won Texas Journalism Adviser of the Year. He has also won the Edith Fox King Award, TAJE Trailblazer, Dow Jones News Fund Special Recognition Adviser and been named both a Distinguished and Special Recognition Adviser by JEA. 

He is currently an educational specialist for Walsworth.

Margaret Sorrows retired after 36 years of advising yearbooks and teaching digital photography, most recently for 24 years at Bryant High School (Arkansas).

She was the 2014 JEA H.L. Hall Yearbook Adviser of the Year. Her yearbooks won Gold and Silver CSPA Crowns and NSPA Pacemakers, including selection to the NSPA Hall of Fame in 2008. Her honors include a JEA Lifetime Achievement Award, NSPA Pioneer Award, CSPA Gold Key, TAJE Texas Trailblazer Award and runner-up to Arkansas Teacher of the Year.

She is currently an ambassador for Jostens, serving as an educational and creative consultant.

Taylor Mersmann teaches journalism at Prosper Walnut Grove High School (Texas), where she advises the online news program and yearbook. She brings 13 years of experience in education, including nine years in scholastic journalism.

Under her guidance, students have earned numerous state and national awards for writing, design, photography and storytelling. A dedicated journalism educator, Taylor is a recipient of the TAJE Pathfinder Award and is committed to empowering student voices.